by Courtesy: Jake Hudspeth
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State Volleyball takes a break from conference play to face off against rival UTEP Tuesday in the Battle For I-10. First serve is set for 7 p.m. at the Pan American Center.
The Aggies own the lead in the series with a 57-23-1 record after sweeping the match 3-0 last year in El Paso. NM State has taken 16 of the last 17 from the Miners.
NM State finished the first half of the WAC schedule after a 3-2 victory against Seattle U. The Aggies increased their record to 17-5, 7-0 in the conference with the 25-23, 22-25, 14-25, 25-18, 15-13 victory over the Redhawks (12-8, 4-3) and increased their win streak to eight games.
Senior’s Bradley Nash (NMSU) and Naomi Whitehair (UTEP) will face off for the last time in their college careers. Both Navajo and former teammates from Monument Valley HS in Arizona.
As a team, the Aggies lead the WAC in overall kills averaging 13.91 kills per set, and are second in conference play averaging 14.07 kills per set.
The UTEP Miners come into the match riding a five game skid after finishing the first half of the Conference USA schedule 1-7.
The Miners are led by Sophomore Coline Coessens who has logged 238 kills so far this season. The Brussels, Belgium/Athenee Royal de Rixensart native is currently averaging 3.22 kills per set.
The match will be televised live on Altitude (Dish 413, DirecTV 681 SD/681-1 HD), Fox Sports Arizona Plus (Dish 443 SD/9581 HD, DirecTV 686-1), KVIA-TV News Now (Antenna 7.3, Comcast 389, Time Warner 1256) and ESPN3.
NM State is back in action to begin the second half of the WAC schedule by traveling to UTRGV on Saturday, October 24. First serve is set for 11 a.m.
